Painting with the kids

So one of my resolutions/goals for this year is to play more with the kids...like actually play with them. I had a couple canvases laying around so i thought it would be fun to have the kids paint them however they want...

This is hard for me...which is why they've been sitting in my basement for about 2 years...I envisioned the kids painting perfect scribbles...a child masterpiece or something.  

Well, I decided to just let go of that and let them paint whatever and however they wanted!

 It was fun for all of us I think...the kids had fun painting and we had fun helping/watching/taking pictures.

Looking at them now it makes me happy that we did it. I look at them and think, "I wonder what they'll be when they grow up?" Will they love to play sports, or dance, or sing, or play the piano, or be an artist?  I think as a parent you sometimes want to live vicariously through your children...get them involved in everything you loved or wish you would've done.  But what i'm learning is that we need to just let them do what they want to do...not what we want them to do. 

The kids are growing up entirely too fast for me! It makes me sad...but then it makes me happy to see them grow and do things independently also.  What would we do without these little monsters that drive us crazy most days?! 

Here's Aspen's masterpiece...(it's a unicorn)

And Clayton's...well his is a blue and red = purple blob

Now I just need to find a place to hang them!

Is there something you wish or want your kids to grow up and do?  I'd love to hear what it is! 

Ramblings of a grateful wife...

Jeremy and I have been married for 4 months today!  It doesn't sound like a long time...but it feels like we've been together much longer than that.  I like to think we knew each other before we came to this earth...and though it took a while to find each other...it's finally the way it's supposed to be.  I honestly don't know how i've lived so long with out him.  He does so much for our family...I come home from work and dinner has been made, the house is picked up, and the kids are usually happy as can be.  And he does so much more than that.  He makes family a priority...he would rather hang out with me and the kids than do anything else.  And I love that about him!  He let's me cuddle him at night...even though he hates it.  He takes me to Cafe Rio...even though he hates it.  He rubs my back, he folds my clothes, he does the dishes, he fixes up the house. 

If I haven't said it enough already...I LOVE THIS MAN! 

He is the cheese to my macaroni...the butter to my bread!  Husband, thanks for doing the little things.  Thanks for listening to me.  Thanks for being such a strong Priesthood holder.   And thanks for waking up at 4 am on your day off to take me to the "pretty" temple.  And for letting me cuddle you at night even though it makes you sweat to death!  And thanks for being understanding of my girlish ways. 

Love you 4ever!

Adorn your habitations

Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations.

~Brigham Young

I love this quote!  And it's going to be my focus for all my resolutions/goals this year! 

Here's my list for 2011:

• Exercise more- at least 3 x per week
• Quit drinking soda
• Read more good books- at least 1 per month
• FHE 100%
• Spend more time playing with the kids
• Finish reading The Book of Mormon again 
• Work on Personal Progress- receive my Young Womenhood recognition award
• Simplify and organize every room in the house
• Remodel bathroom
• Food storage
• Start a garden
• Get out of debt
• Go on a vacation

 I tried to keep the list somewhat simple this year...trying to focus on the important things.  Beautifying my home, family and self.  I want to be able to look back at the time i've spent doing things and be happy with the results...not feeling guilty about it. 

2010 Re-Cap

Hello blogger, nice to see you again! It’s been a while!

Lately, whenever people ask me how I’ve been…my response is usually BUSY! Life has been busy! Busy at work, busy being a mom, busy being a wife, busy keeping up a house, busy fixing up and organizing that house, busy with church callings, busy editing pictures, busy with the holidays…and just about everything else! I like being busy…but I sometimes feel like I never have time to enjoy the moment…anyone else feel that way? The last half of 2010 seemed to go by soooo quickly! The holidays came and went by like none other! And now we are already half way into 2011! Craziness!

So I thought I’d do a small re-cap of 2010 for you and maybe eventually show you some pictures of us finishing out the year! So without further adieu…

Re-Cap of 2010: (not necessarily in order)

• Faced the challenges and reality of being a single parent

• Was hired for some photog gigs...first wedding, a couple funerals, some really awesome families with really cute kids, and also a few adorable babies.  See my website here: http://www.lesliemarshphotography.com/
• Went on my first blind date…which also happened to be my first date in like 9ish+ years!
• Ran my first 5k
• Got a d-i-v-o-r-c-e
• Vacationed in St. George

• Aspen turned 6 years old and started 1st grade!

• Clayton had surgery for his teeth

• I went to a Backstreet Boys Concert with friends!

• Celebrated 28 years of my life

• Got engaged!
• Planned a wedding/reception
• Became the 1st counselor in Young Women’s
• Received my endowments at the Mt. Timpanogas Temple
• Got married!
• Clayton turned 4 years old!

• Aspen lost her first tooth
• I got a promotion at work!
• Celebrated our first Christmas together as a new (but complicated) family!

So that’s just a few things we did last year! Pretty crazy year for us with lot’s of changes!! I have high hopes that 2011 will be a good year for our family…simple…not so crazy...pretty much fantastic!!


All the love in the universe~